Prominent British Muslim charged with Syria-related terrorism

Hundreds gather outside a police station in Birmingham to demonstrate against the detention of prominent British Muslim Moazzam Begg, whom they believe is the victim of British state oppression. Begg’s arrest has sparked a huge reaction from Muslims living in the UK as well as civil liberties campaigners.
The police have charged Moazzam Begg with providing support for terrorism and funding terrorism overseas. They have also remanded him in custody until his next court appearance on March 14. But here in his home town of Birmingham there is widespread skepticism over the charges and the real motives behind them. Begg was incarcerated for three years in Guantanamo Bay. After his release, he sued the British authorities for complicity in his ordeal, and became a prominent critic of Britain’s counter-terrorism policies at home and its wars abroad. But Begg was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences. He’s been a vocal supporter of the Syrian insurgents and visited the country in 2012. But even those who disagree with his views on Syria say his arrest is not about his views on that conflict, but rather about targeting British Muslims. After allowing British Muslims to go and fight in Syria for the last few years the government has suddenly changed policy. Now it says that hundreds of Muslims could return home radicalized from their experiences and with the military training to attack the West. Begg has never been found guilty of any offence in his life and his future trial is likely to anger and alienate British Muslims even further.